iramurphy

The assumption that anyone who believes in what our coaching staff is trying to do “loves being average “ is ridiculous. A person’s opinion about a coach or program has nothing to do with ones personal ambitions and accomplishments. It’s another fans opinion. The fact that someone agrees with the Cal Davis coach that our kids were well prepared and well coached Saturday has nothing to do with what they are satisfied with. It doesn’t even mean they want Bubba as head coach. Why don’t you knock off the baloney. I would love to see the long list of the accomplishments of some of you experts. We are all just fans and your opinion is no more or less valid than anyone else’s until you start the rhetoric about people being satisfied with mediocrity etc. Then for many it isn’t as valid. The coaching staff we have and the players we have are just that. A lot of people didn’t like parts of the game or play calling and may be as critical as you are of Bubba. Most however, can do so without the unwarranted insinuations about others personal characteristics. Your criticism of coaching decisions is reasonable but you should be able to do so without the other bull$%!#.

Players are listening to our coaches. A player getting frustrated is different. I believe he heard his coach loud and clear. I don’t think he liked the three straight handoffs in the 4th quarter either. If he wasn’t listening to the coach he could have changed the plays in the huddle.

On the other hand, the Cal Davis coach was impressed with the UND coaching. Anyone who believes this was never a coach nor a team player. That attitude should get you benched at the HS or college level and likely cut or traded at the pro level. “Players weren’t having it” is baloney. Players were paying attention to coaches during timeouts and on sideline. If our program were to ever fall to a level where that attitude is tolerated we should drop the program.

Offensively we played well. We averaged over 5yds per carry. JJ seemed to pick his spots to be patient and find the seem and otherwise power for 1-3 yds. He also did a nice job of pass protection. Ket has a good game. He got to his reads quicker and he and RBs did great with their play fakes which gained some time for our receivers. He put the ball in some tight spots and scrambled out of trouble a number of times for some nice gains. He made a big mistake on the int. Weak pass needs to be out of bounds. It’s obvious why he started. Receivers only dropped 1 that I can recall. They did a nice job. One false start. Penalties hurt us more than play calling in second half. Lineman downfield and holding by WR stopped 2 nice drives. Look at play by play in second half and we were still doing run pass mix similar to first half. We overcame a number of penalties on our successful drives. They stopped us in second half. I didn’t like QB carry on 4th and short. JJ was picking up 1-3 yds when it looked like he didn’t have running room. Big mistake in 4th quarter to run straight ahead 3 times then try field goal. Defense did decent against run. Pass dec challenged by All American QB. He stuck ball into tight spots with decent coverage a number of times. Problems were no pressure on QB and missed assignments leaving receivers wide open too often. They dropped 4-5 balls by wide open receivers. They catch those, it may have been different. Special team problems continue with poor punting and inconsistent kicking. KO coverage, punt coverage, and no punt blocks all decent. Our KO return was decent. We didn’t have much opportunity to return punts. (They averaged 53 yds per punt). Exciting, entertaining game against ranked opponent with an All American QB is a good day. Hundreds of empty seats above concourse level between the 30’s. Considering the weather, student attendance fair. The kids who came and stayed for second half stayed in game. Ket and oline play like this, we clean up penalties and missed assignments this team can win any remaining games on the schedule.

All I can comment on was my game experience there. I would guess there are games they also leave at halftime. They didn’t seem to leave the Michigan game at halftime and they didn’t leave early when I attended a couple of years ago.

NDSU has a great tailgating turnout. Best overall experience for me is Camp Randall for a Badger game. Their “tailgating” experience starts over a mile from the stadium in all directions with homes and apartments along the way with gamesband barbecuing in virtually every yard and parking area. The students are in one end zone and they stay for the game. The band is a big part of the atmosphere. Multiple ingame traditions, the most recognized is the “Jump Around” between 3rd and 4th quarters. The Bucky Badger Song, and the Budweiser song sung by all fans including students. After every TD fans rock to “Hot time in Old Town Tonight” then On Wisconsin after the XP. Alma Mater after game and everyone knows the words. Halftime show by band is big part of the atmosphere. Pregame experience at Army-Navy game is a pageant that should be on every college FB fans bucket list. Post game singing of both schools Alma Mater as The Corps of Cadets or Brigade of Midshipmen respectfully standby is very moving. I have heard the Notre Dame experience is worth the trip and there are others. UND should send a team to multiple locations to see the possibilities.

I think your frustration is shared. Very few of us are able to give much more now, if any. Those of you who have kids or those of us who have grandkids and limited resources aren’t going to give UND an extra $500, $5000 etc when we might help a kid or grandkid or maybe have a building project at our church or businesses expansion etc. Make an appointment with whomever you want to communicate to and they will know who you are. Get a group of like minded fans and pledge to pool resources. 10 or 20 fans who don’t feel listened to can throw together $100-$500 per person and ask to meet with decision makers twice per year. Once to present a check and once to hear from the AD on how those resources are being used. $1000-5000 per year is usually welcomed. Having said that, you don’t need to give money to speak with University officials. You sound like a smart enough person to have ideas to share and a passion and interest in UND athletics that is important. Over 20 years ago I convinced Rob Bollinger to start a UND golf outing in our town. I believe it has raised around $200,000 since inception. UND officials no longer remember that but most important is the support for UND and bringing UND alumni and fans together. I certainly couldn’t have donated that kind of money but many golfers who have been attending this and similar events can now afford to give $1000 or more per year. We can talk to local students about attending UND or donate to our local high school scholarship programs for graduating seniors. My wife and I offer a scholarship to a graduating senior who attends UND majoring in Engineering. We can’t be involved in recruiting athletes but getting athletes classmates to UND occasionally helps a recruit make up their mind. The little things are important but one thing is for sure, if you don’t persist in your efforts then we all lose.

They aren’t going to put any discussion about staff changes in an email nor on paper nor should they. Discussion about an employee’s performance/job security is protected information. Be the first in line to make an appointment with the approach that you want to know how to help and then take the opportunity to share your frustration. Figure out how to be part of the solution. I knew Rudolph was out of his league the first year he was here. I expressed my opinion to Bubba. He listened, but didn’t seem to agree. If enough people express willingness to help solve our issues and take the opportunity to express our frustrations, the are much more likely to pay attention. When I spoke with Bubba, not that many people had turned on Rudolph yet.

That blueprint worked for them. UND FB fan hits the nail on the head. It takes a University President who recognizes the value of intercollegiate athletics to the University experience for students (getting more difficult each year to maintain their interest) and the importance of the exposure what the University does for area and regional businesses and organizations. It’s a great marketing tool to attract prospective students, attract collaborative interactions with businesses, companies and organizations both regionally and nationally and studies show success athletically leads to increases in donations. UND does not have the advantage of the size of Fargo Moorhead. So much of their “blueprint “ is dependent on support from many non NDSU alumni. Sanford Health has been a difference maker for NDSU as well as SDSU, USD, Augustana, Bemidji State etc. UND turned down the first $10 million offer and subsequently the millions that followed elsewhere. We need to review their blueprint but it will require leadership and our own blueprint that works for us.

I believe I said that when there is pressure from fans for these seats then move the students.

You can get that kind of audience without a check. Call and make an appointment. (If you start writing checks they may call and make an appointment with you). They need input and a commitment to help as much as they need checks.

If you think I am mistaken about empty seats at midfield on the home team side, then you are not paying attention. I sit on the 50 yard line row Z. There are over 100 empty seats above and around me virtually every game. The seats below concourse level are almost always full. My comment never said attendance in this area is inferior to student attendance. My point is that when there is pressure for more season tickets, move the students. In the meantime leave them where they are, right behind the opposing team. I would prefer students filling the seats they fill for however long they are at the game, rather than move them to the far end and leave the middle nearly empty. There is nothing about my comments that should lead you to believe that I think the “status quo” is acceptable. The fact that I and others don’t call for change every time a receiver drops a pass, the QB throws an interception or we miss a tackle or extra point only means that I don’t need to vent on this website. I find it more productive to sit down with the President, Athletic Director, Head Coach, and/or other boosters or Alumni to figure out how I might be able to help affect change. It isn’t arguing with you on this site about accepting mediocrity, the status quo, etc. I hope you can understand almost all fans want our teams to be successful. That means conference and national championships. That includes people who support our coaching staff and those who want to start over. It’s a very difficult and complicated process that we as fans, Alumni, boosters, administrators, coaches and players haven’t been successful at yet.

I believe there is an assumption that if the students are moved that the seats between the 30’s would be gobbled up. There are an awful lot of seats on the home side 50 that remain empty virtually every game. I assume they are purchased by Champions Club patrons who occasionally use them. When I don’t use my Tix I either give them away or self them through UND website account. If we develop pressure from the public for better seats I would move the students. Usually when that happens, the team is playing better and even the students are more likely to stay longer. Right now I wouldn’t bet on those seats filling by additional season ticket holders. For the time being I think we are better off leaving the students there. When it’s time to move them, I would do it gradually. One section at a time.

Until Mn High School league requires Section play during season there are a number of schools who either play up or down or have extensive travel. For a number of years DL was traveling to southern Mn (Blue Earth, New Ulm) N. Dak. (Bismarck, Wahpeton, Shanley, Fargo North, GF Red River) the Range (Grand Rapids, Duluth East, Duluth Central, Hibbing, Virginia). At one time, DL, EGF, Crookston, Fergus Falls, Thief River Falls played each other competitively. The Range schools aren’t anywhere near as good cuz the hockey players quit playing FB and other communities have smaller enrollments plus participation is down. Colleges still recruit these kids. Thompson and Gunderson would start at any level in NDak or Mn. DL scrimmages Moorhead and Bemidji every year and held their own.

I would recruit Max and let him start out as a QB if that is his wish. He has a great upside. If he doesn’t play QB he will start at another position. I told Roger Thomas Max’s uncle would start at CB by the time he was a senior. I was wrong. His uncle started as a freshman. His dad could have played FB at UND or NDSU Isaiah can also return kicks and punts.

Yes. He hasn’t played more than 1/2 of each of 4 games. He has 44 carries for 612 yds (14 yds/carry) and 9 TDs. In less than 3 years he has 3246 yds on 314 carries (10yds/carry). Great kid, good student. At least PWO but I would give him a partial. Only drawbacks are he’s only 5’ 9””. His 40 time is probably 4.7. He reminds me of Shannon Burnell. Stops and starts quickly finds seams in traffic and breaks tackles. Shannon didn’t have great 40 speed either. UND is aware not sure how interested. Max Gunderson is another kid. He’s 6’4” 205lbs still growing. Plays HS QB and safety when needed. I think he can play at UND as SS or LB. Dad played baseball at New Mexico and bison and pro baseball in minors. His Mom played VB for bison. Uncle was 4 yr starter at CB at UND. Aunt played VB at UMD. He is very good HS QB but will be better college player. Still maturing physically. (Same thing I told UND about Ryan Manke, who we got, and Adam Thielen who we passed on).

Detroit Lakes RB Isaiah Thompson had 14 carries for 275yds and 4 TD’s and a 35 yd TD pass in less than 2 quarters tonight against Pequot Lakes. 2 time State Wrestling Champion at 180lbs. Patient runner, sets up blocks, breaks tackles, great balance, very quick.

Medically cleared means physically they are cleared to play. Full contact. If they have been out for awhile they would need to get timing down etc.

Coaching staff doesn’t let anyone play who isn’t cleared by medical staff. I’m not sure who you are referring to.

Yes

Good athlete. Over 6 ft. Makes plays but Moorhead is down this year. Certainly need to keep an eye on him. I haven’t seen Moorhead play this year. Great pedigree. Grandpa was longtime Bismarck High coach. Uncle was excellent player for UND and his Dad , Kevin who was also at the game, was the Bison QB.

Trey Feeney, Moorhead HS Jr. QB was at Game Saturday.

You are correct. I forgot that one.

A couple of things seemed to be missed by our experts here. We didn’t have any KO’s for touchbacks but we had excellent KO coverage. SH had to start inside their own 25 2or 3 times and I think only once past their own 30. We don’t have a stronger legged kicker but had great coverage on KO’s. We don’t have a great punter either. He averaged about 35 yds per punt but SH only returned one for a yard and our first 2 were inside their 20. We couldn’t effectively run the ball but on JJ’s TD, there was no hole and he bounced it outside and into the end zone. Our Off line didn’t run block but they did protect our QB’s especially the true freshman which was one of the keys to the game. There is room for improvement in all areas but our secondary play was excellent against some outstanding receivers, our LB’s played well and had 3 int’s, and we had only 1 turnover with a third string true freshman, who was given great pass protection. Our KO and punt coverage was excellent. We need to keep improving and getting better each day/week/game. We need to get healthy. We just passed a big test. Another one in 2 weeks. As long as these players and coaches believe in themselves and each other we can compete with everyone on our schedule. As Irish commented, they are learning what it takes to win tough games. They overcame losing starting QB, a missed XP, a late interception, and poor field position toward end of game inside our 5. Go Hawks. I was corrected. We also had a fumble.

Keaton’s freshman year was not very good. This kid had a much better start.